Nationwide major money source for lobbying group

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Court records and tax returns show a deferred compensation plan for state government employees has become a major source of funds for an influential lobbying group that represents the workers at the Alabama Legislature.

Nationwide Retirement Solutions provides the plan for stateworkers. It has filed court papers saying it was prepared to paynearly $433,000 to the Alabama State Employees Association last week, but held off because of litigation over the deferredcompensation plan.

Tax returns filed by ASEA show that in recent years aboutone-third of its revenue has come from Nationwide. The association is paid for promoting the plan to state workers.

Three state workers have filed suits claiming the plan is bad for state employees and the money paid to ASEA should be returned to state workers.

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